Torre: MLB hopes for new rule to protect middle infielders

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Major League Baseball hopes to push ahead with a rules change to better protect middle infielders from getting hurt by baserunners trying to prevent double-play turns at second base.

Joe Torre, MLB's chief baseball officer, said Tuesday at the winter meetings that MLB will work to draft the rule in conjunction with the players' association.

''I'm not saying it's not going to be in place by this season,'' he said. ''It depends on if we can find a common ground.''

Ahead of the 2014 season, MLB banned most home-plate collisions. Injuries at second base gained renewed focus after a hard slide by the Los Angeles Dodgers' Chase Utley broke the leg of New York Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada during the NL Division Series. Torre later suspended Utley for two games, ruling the slide illegal, discipline the players' association has appealed.

At the Arizona Fall League, players have been told for two years to slide directly toward the base.

''There's a way, I believe, you can do it without going out of your way to target the fielder,'' Torre said. ''Doesn't mean we're not going to have collisions or guys landing on their rear ends in second base, but you know, I think we could try or I'd like to see us try to keep guys on the field.''